NOTES ON THE MASAI. 351 



genealogy. A circlet of black ostrich feathers 

 in some branches surrounds the face and stands 

 high above the head. In the southern districts 

 the warriors wear two single black ostrich 

 plumes tied one either side the head, and slanting 

 a little backwards. They walk with a mincing 

 step, so that the two feathers bob gently up and 

 down like the waving of the circus equestrienne's 

 filmy skirts. 



Naturally the Masai with the Zulu were the 

 most dreaded of all the tribes of Africa. They 

 were constantly raiding in all directions as far 

 as their sphere of operations could reach, cap- 

 turing cattle and women as the prizes of war. 

 Now that the white man has put a stop to the 

 ferocious intertribal wars, the El-morani are out 

 of a job. The military organization is still 

 carried on as before. What will happen to the 

 morals of the people it would be difficult to say. 

 The twelve years of imposed peace have not been 

 long enough seriously to deteriorate the people ; 

 but, inevitably, complete idleness will tell. 

 Either the people must change their ideals and 

 become industrious which is extremely un- 

 likely or they will degenerate. 



As a passing thought, it is a curious and for- 

 midable fact that the prohibition of intertribal 



